Paperwhite 3 First Impressions

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

That does not alter the fact that it is objectively incorrect for Amazon to claim 'best in class typography' when there exist competitors that can present the same typography and much more.

Agreed, but I think we really need to wait until the new typesetting engine is released to be able to make an informed judgement.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Agreed, but I think we really need to wait until the new typesetting engine is released to be able to make an informed judgement.

I would have simply given you a rep but it wouldn't let me. Bingo. You are right on the point.

[pendragginp]

I don't notice that much of a difference either, really. I'll keep this though because my other PW doesn't have 3G and I really missed that. Also it's getting pretty elderly anyway.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by cerem0ny

I went into Dick Smith to look at the reader today. Pretty underwhelming. Couldn't even notice that much of a difference, really!

Bring on the Voyage 2!!!

I felt the same coming from pearl to a Glo HD. The increased resolution is no big deal. Add to that that the contrast is lessened with a front-light screen, and one is left with even less of an upgrade. For me, with the introduction of newer screens with front-lights, it has become important to have the ability to weight / bold fonts to compensate for the lower contrast. And it was important to me before.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Rizla

I felt the same coming from pearl to a Glo HD. The increased resolution is no big deal. Add to that that the contrast is lessened with a front-light screen, and one is left with even less of an upgrade.

The light diffuser slightly lowers the contract, certainly, but this is really only noticeable in sunlight. When you're reading in poor light, the additional readability provided by the light more than makes up for any decrease due to the light diffuser.

I think personally that the difference in resolution from 212dpi to 300dpi is significant; it results in the letters being better-formed and crisper.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

Amazon can say that their typography is better when they allow side-loaded fonts, font weight/sharpness tweaking and more granular control over font sizes, page margins and line spacing. Until that happens they will always be a distant second as far as typography goes in the eyes of the discerning reader.

I am not sure I understand the comparison between "discerning reader" and "discerning connoisseur of typography". Can you elaborate?

i.e. You wonder why everyone is picking a bone with what you said?
Hint: it's because the two have absolutely nothing to do with each other. Although in some people the two coincide.

[GERGE]

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

Amazon can say that their typography is better when they allow side-loaded fonts, font weight/sharpness tweaking and more granular control over font sizes, page margins and line spacing. Until that happens they will always be a distant second as far as typography goes in the eyes of the discerning reader.

Kobo and Kindle have different approaches right now. Kobo's RMSDK renders epub files as is. Therefore quality of typography is direcly depended on the quality of the epub. Kindle, on the other hand, much more independent of the source file.

An argument could be made that this is a better way to do things. I prefer Kobo, but I am willing to fix things. When you are willing to tinker, you can get anything better than a Kobo type-wise. But the main goal of typography is to be invisible, not offering a plethora of choices like 50 sizes and 15 margin settings. Therefore, I believe Kindle right now offers better typography as a whole. Typography should just work, you should not even think about it.

This can be discussed, of course. But I consider myself a discerning readers who is very much concerned about type as people in MR probably noticed. This is my view. You are practically telling me I don't know about typography here and I find this insulting.

Amazon has a real case here. It should not be discarded that easily.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The light diffuser slightly lowers the contract, certainly, but this is really only noticeable in sunlight.

I have not found this to be the case. I note the darks are not as dark under all conditions.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by GERGE

Kobo and Kindle have different approaches right now. Kobo's RMSDK renders epub files as is...Kindle, on the other hand, much more independent of the source file.

Is that so? I don't know a lot about how different reading softwares render. For example, I'm playing with Koreader, Cool Reader and Nickel on a Kobo, and I'm not sure if they render the same or not. I had presumed they all rendered from scratch with their own rendering-engines.

On another note, the Kobo nickle rendering-engine is remarkable. The options are the best I've ever seen. But Cool Reader offers other feature that Nickle lacks that I require, such as the ability to set tap-zones throughout the screen to do what I want.

[howyoudoin]

Originally Posted by GERGE

Kobo and Kindle have different approaches right now. Kobo's RMSDK renders epub files as is. Therefore quality of typography is direcly depended on the quality of the epub. Kindle, on the other hand, much more independent of the source file.

An argument could be made that this is a better way to do things. I prefer Kobo, but I am willing to fix things. When you are willing to tinker, you can get anything better than a Kobo type-wise. But the main goal of typography is to be invisible, not offering a plethora of choices like 50 sizes and 15 margin settings. Therefore, I believe Kindle right now offers better typography as a whole. Typography should just work, you should not even think about it.

This can be discussed, of course. But I consider myself a discerning readers who is very much concerned about type as people in MR probably noticed. This is my view. You are practically telling me I don't know about typography here and I find this insulting.

Amazon has a real case here. It should not be discarded that easily.

The bolded is precisely my point. With the Kobo, I can set it once and carry on reading. With the kindle it was always frustrating that their font sizes were small->large->EXTRA LARGE with nothing in between and their margins settings were absolutely useless. It was never a case of "It just works" with the kindle. Rather it was " this is all you get so suck it up and carry on". With the kobo, I don't have to worry about the quality of the ePub/kePub at all because I can always tweak the typography on the device itself. I have no idea where you get the idea that Kobo rendering depends on the quality of the ePub.

[howyoudoin]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I am not sure I understand the comparison between "discerning reader" and "discerning connoisseur of typography". Can you elaborate?

i.e. You wonder why everyone is picking a bone with what you said?
Hint: it's because the two have absolutely nothing to do with each other. Although in some people the two coincide.

It was pretty obvious from the context what I meant.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Rizla

I have not found this to be the case. I note the darks are not as dark under all conditions.

I wonder if perhaps the glass screen of the Voyage provides better contrast (ie is more transparent) than the plastic screen of the PW? Certainly my Voyage appears to me to have excellent contrast.

[haydnfan]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That's one reason to use a good cover. Most Readers have a bezel that's too small. Also, it gives some protection in case of a drop.

Yup I never go without a cover. Easier to hold and read, gives protection against dust and drops.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

It was pretty obvious from the context what I meant.

Then for the sake of all the stupid people in this thread (i.e. everyone other than you)... please, in the future, clarify yourself anyway.

[cvkemp]

We all have our likes and dislikes. I have my likes and I do not push them on others. I only ask that no one else try to push their likes and dislikes on me.